“Kineya Mugimaru Takebashi Palaceside Building” opens December 11 — the first-floor south space where McDonald’s was until September.
Operated by Gourmet Kineya Co., Ltd. Starting with live-handmade udon “Kineya,” the group expanded into Sanuki udon, Shinshu soba, tempura, tendon, Western food and Thai. Mugimaru is self-service udon with house-made noodles — freshly boiled udon and just-fried tempura are signatures. You proceed along the counter, choose udon, tempura toppings, inari and onigiri onto your plate, then pay cafeteria-style ＝photo lower right.
On the 10th, a pre-opening tasting for stakeholders — I had bukkake udon with soft-boiled egg ＝photo upper left, plus chikuwa tempura and salmon onigiri (ate too much). Chewy udon, crisp tempura — superb.
Staff said 3,000 opening flyers with service coupons in front of the shop vanished in just two days, forcing a reprint — never happened at previous openings where even 1,000 did not go; expectations for Palaceside dining run high.
Hours: weekdays 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; closed Sundays and holidays.